Dined here last night for the first time. The ambiance is a vibe. It was busy we never felt rushed. The food is good, healthy and decent portions. I had a jalapeño margarita and loved it. It has spice but it's not overwhelming. We ordered the chopped salad and grilled avocado as appetizers and enjoyed both. I liked my salmon but it was a touch over cooked in the middle and my boyfriend enjoyed his flatiron steak but said it wasn't out of this world. Still we'll be back to try out the other options on the menu u. read more

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As always, the food, ambiance and service were amazing! My husband had the short rib and I had the blackened salmon.

Pretty decent place in a lowkey random area. I was not a fan of the chopped salad - it was the same few ingredients (heavy on the celery) chopped so small you didn't have to chew it before swallowing. The serving sizes are huge, but it was a bit much since there was not a lot going on in this salad. The Arnold Palmers were refreshing and there were ample refills. Our servers were super friendly and attentive! This seems like a cool place to hang out with a big group of coworkers as opposed to one on one. read more

Went here on a date ! Food is amazing! We had the short ribs, the burrata and the crispy rice tuna . All excellent ! Had the mojito mocktail ! Very good size and delish! Great service . The manager was warm and cordial. Stopped at the table to ask if all was ok. Ambiance is really nice and I'd say good for a first date . Pleasantly surprised and will def return. Thank you ! read more

Upper West has been bookmarked for years. I'm very disappointed that I waited this long to finally pay a visit. My close friends knew that this restaurant was on my list, so they threw a surprise dinner for me on my birthday. We sat in the room with "Some like it hot" playing on the wall. From the service to the food, everything was absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the Pan Roasted Pittman Farms Chicken and the flavors meshed beautifully. One friend ordered the Seared Baja Striped Bass. Another ordered the Thai Peanut Noodles which was also delicious but threw me off because they were cold. Our server was awesome as well. He brought out a warm bread pudding with ice cream on top and we also ordered a key lime pie. The frosting on it was light and fluffy with hints of lavender. The coconut basil sorbet was very refreshing that came with the key lime pie. 10/10 will visit again. read more

Beautiful ambiance. I came in December during the holidays. They had the place well decorated. The customer service was good and attentive. The food was ok. Fresh and well plated in terms of presentation but not portion. The flavor left more to be desired no wows for me there. Just ok. Still, overall I would return and give another dish a try. read more

Fantastic dinner tonight. Haven't been in a while, but definitely will be back more often. The food, service and ambiance were amazing! Don't miss the chicken, crispy rice and lamb flatbread! read more

Delicious food, fantastic service and ambience. I've been there many times and they never disappoint. Highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

Overall, the food was delicious. The crunchy rice/tuna appetizer along with the ribs were so so delicious. Considered taking some for take out. The main entrees were also good- our group had the braised short rib with mashed potatoes, which was great. I personally didn't like the pesto on top, but it was easily removed. The steak in the tacos were phenomenal, and the fish (sea bass) was also good. Overall 10/10 for their appetizers and 8/10 for their main entrees. The service was splendid and the servers were responsive, attentive, and always asked questions. The ambiance was perfect for a date night - lighting was a bit too low for our group (we were celebrating a birthday party), but nonetheless had the best time. read more

Feel welcomed, went with a local, he show me the place, was fun easy going place, relax ambiance. Food was delicious had aSpicy Ahi Tuna over crispy Rice with Avocado yummy read more

Excellent experience at this fine dining restaurant. The service, food, and ambiance were all outstanding. We had the burrata for an appetizer and then the salmon for dinner. All was delicious. Kudos to all! read more

Love Upper West! Always wonderful to gather there with a group of friends for dinner. Saturday night the place was full of people and good vibes. The girls got white wine and the men beer and hard liquor. We started with several different appetizers, well portioned and delicious. We continued with several dinner plates to share for the table. The steak fajita, burger, and fish were so good. Really had no room for dessert, but couldn't resist. The manager and owner are warm and welcoming. The waiter was friendly and attentive. Always feel good and satisfied after our meal there. Thank you. read more

Upper West is super nice and well decorated inside. They have a pretty nice menu keeping it simple yet modern. After we sat down, I was greeted instantly by our server. I told him I was waiting for my girlfriend to start ordering. Once she did arrive, it took forever to get the attention of the server to come back so we can officially order. The server was nice, I just wish he checked in once my GF got there. Later into the meal the owner checked in frequently to make sure everything is okay which I did appreciate. Food wise.. The burrata was a huge hit, but the other dishes like the corn and flatbread was just only 'OK'. Key Lime Tart was different but quite delectable. Overall, Upper West is much better than a 3 star, but hard to give it a 5. If I come back I'll probably limit it to having a cocktail at the nice looking bar. read more

Upper West - Inside - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This is my new love spot!! The staff is amazing, the food is top notched. When you go you have to have the short ribs and the blue cheese chips. read more

Exceptional food and ambiance. Wonderful service. A true gem! I will definitely go back to The Upper West! read more

Upper West - Shared Thai Peanut Noodles and Spicy Ahi Tuna Crunchy Rice. Actual portion much larger. - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I go to The Upper West every time I fly in from New York, it reminds me of home. The ambience is spectacular, the high ceilings with wood, the glass patio area, and the bar is just amazing. Probably have every kind of whiskey you ever thought of, the staff is great specially Mark he makes me and my wife laugh the whole time we're there, it reminds me of the staff back home. The food is impeccable the steak tacos, the salmon the Seabass, honestly everything on the menu is great! If you ever have a chance to go by there, I highly recommend it!! read more

Casual vibe in a lowkey area. The serving sizes are generous, but some dishes, like the chopped salad, lacked variety and felt underwhelming. On the other hand, standout items like the short rib and mashed potatoes were flavorful and satisfying. The coffee ice cream and chocolate cake were highlights for dessert lovers. Service was friendly, but there were moments of disorganization with multiple servers attending, which made things feel a bit scattered. Overall, it's a good place for groups, especially coworkers, but it could use a bit more polish in both food variety and service flow. read more

We discovered Upper West while looking for a place to hold a party to celebrate my daughter's graduation from law school. I wanted it to be special, so we went to check it out and talk with the owner, Fred. Fred is amazing. He is friendly and helpful and he worked with us very closely to set up an amazing night. We took over the main part of the restaurant and the bar. He worked with the DJ and helped make the night very special. The restaurant is spectacular. Very nicely decorated with art from local artists that Fred rotates periodically. The bar is huge and inviting and well stocked. The tables are comfortable and the atmosphere is also warm and inviting. The staff are friendly and attentive and it feels like you're eating in your favorite local place. (For some people, it really is their local favorite!) The food for the party was buffet with passed appetizers. The food was spectacular and perfectly cooked. Beef perfect, salmon perfect....Nothing like the buffet dinner you would expect at a graduation party. Apps: mini burgers, spicy ahi tuna crunchy rice, lamb & fennel sausage Flat bread, and burrata toast. Main: Chopped salad, spring veggie fusilli pesto, marinated flank steak, blackened salmon, pan roasted Pittman farms chicken, and roasted cauliflower, grilled artichoke hearts. Everything we had is on the regular menu. I would recommend every one of those and more. There were mini desserts with & berries, all delicious. It was an open bar and all of their drinks were amazing. Go there! Enjoy yourself! (We're going there tonight! LOL!) read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to in LA! The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, family dinner, or girls night out. We sat at the bar and enjoyed cocktails and then grabbed some dinner to go. The bartender was attentive and the cocktails were amazing. Absolutely loved the prime rib, chicken, salmon, spicy tuna crispy rice, and so much more. I can't wait to go back again! read more

Upper West - Love the bar area - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Upper west is a westside gem. Great ambiance with lots of room between tables. The food is excellent with lots of smaller dishes and dishes to share. The staff is friendly and very accommodating. I highly recommend Upper West. read more

My sister and I came here for restaurant week. We tried to order different items so that we can share and in the end, we both had enough for a meal to take home! For the appetizer, I got the Salmon on Crispy Rice and she got the Burrata. Both were delicious and done well. I loved the spicy touch of jalapeno on the salmon. For the main, I tried the Pork and she got the Beef. I would say the beef was definitely wayyy better. I felt like the pork dish was a little too sweet for me. The beef flavor was amazing and really melted in your mouth. For the dessert, I got the Bread Pudding and she got the Chocolate Pie. Both were yummy, but weren't anything super special. Overall, they had great service and the food came fairly quickly! read more

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I've come here twice for work events and the service has been incredible. We've sat in the main dining room or in a side party room that they have that has clear glass, and you can still see the rest of the restaurant. The staff are incredible and attentive. They have a good wine selection and they have delicious food. Very large shareable plates that are really tasty. It's also very pretty inside. It looks like a cabin. It's very beautiful lighting pretty romantic actually. read more

Idk why I thought this was a dive bar but it's actually a great bar looks like a local spot drink where great and strong . I didn't have any food but probably next time read more

My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night. The vibe is great, a nice bar, with high tables and also a dining area with local artwork on the walls. We started with the Burrata, it was fresh and delicious. We also had the fried sweet potatoes with strawberries also very delicious. We shared the sea bass it was excellently seasoned with a little crisp and very tasty. We had the Bramble and Sunset Smoke for cocktails and they were both delicious. The staff were friendly and the food and drinks were tasty with a great vibe. Definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

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I came for a graduation celebration dinner. The ambiance and interior were nice, classy. The bathroom was so clean. The staff were very attentive and friendly, this includes the bar tenders and the wait staff. All of them were warm and welcoming. The food was amazing. I've been eating some of the leftovers and it's so good that I came to write a review. The flat iron steak, 10 out of 10, so tender and flavorful, perfect done-ness. Blackened salmon, very tasty, the salmon was also cooked to perfect done-ness, which is crucial for the salmon to not be dry. My favorite is the grilled artichokes. I cannot describe how delicious they are, I took some leftovers home, and they still taste so good. I will definitely be back. read more

Came for dinela, and the place definitely did not disappoint. The wedge salad was deliciously refreshing and one of the best salads I've had, while the spicy ahi tuna crispy rice was solid, although the extreme spice covered up most of the other tastes and textures so that was unfortunate. The short rib was amazing -- well flavored and tender, and the mashed potatoes was great as well. Then came two scoops of ice cream -- the coffee flavor was definitely a new experience for me and both flavors were tasty. Chocolate cake again? Yes please! The only thing was that the although the service was good, it felt a little disorganized as there were multiple people checking in on the table, sometimes within a minute of each other. But I guess that's better than the reverse where your table is ignored! Ambiance was interesting with the large, open space. read more

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Best bar on West Side. Awesome drinks, food, bartender, and ambiance. Tip o the hat to the best or the best at the bar, Christopher and Alfonzo! read more

Upper West - Mojito - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I love Upper West! From the moment you enter, you're welcomed with a very warm hello from the owners. The service is impeccable (thanks, Mark) and the food is delicious! Try the spicy tuna on crispy rice and the octopus... Absolutely a crowd favorite!! I have introduced this place to many friends and co-workers - they all agree, yummy food! great service! excellent vibe! You will be very happy, check it out! read more

They have an absolute SLEEPER on their menu-- surprisingly one of the best burgers in los angeles. Incredibly juicy with a jus that I would gladly replace water with for the rest of my life. Consistently great food, friendly staff, and fun atmosphere! read more

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Fred is the best! Fantastic place for hosting parties! I rarely order chicken at a restaurant, except at Upper West. The chicken is amazing! The whiskey selection ain't so bad either read more

We've driven past this place so many times and always comment on how cute it looks, so we finally decided to stop by. So glad we did! For drinks we had the bramble and the westsider (white sangria) and they were both great! Food wise we started with the spicy ahi tuna crunchy rice- you get 4 pieces and they were a good size, done very well. For our meals I had the coffee crusted pork tenderloin with goat cheese mashed potatoes, and my boyfriend had the braised prime short rib. Both were so great! The flavors were fantastic and the flavors were perfect. The ambiance is lovely and food just as great, I'd definitely recommend stopping by! It is a little pricy but worth it for a nice night out. read more

Upper West - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Let's talk about how amazing the staff and management is. They are very friendly, and Fred is very personable. Came here last night for my mother's and sister's birthday and the food was incredible. We had the chopped salad, octopus, chicken and few additional dishes. Delicious. Love the ambiance and art work installations. A must try, you gonna be a regular for life. read more

Upper West - Dessert - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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5/5 food. 5/5 service. 5/5 ambiance. Owners are always present and ensuring all customers leave satisfied. I'm not sure I've ever been to a restaurant with so many regulars. I think that says everything you need to know about the place. read more

Good food and excellent service! The fried chicken sandwich was hot crispy and tasty! The chopped salad was unusual and yummy.

This has been one of the few "go to" restaurants in the LA area for my wife and me. Last night we celebrated our anniversary there and while we always loved the food, it seemed even more delicious than before! The staff, beginning with Fred and the rest of the servers is excellent. All in all a "perfect" evening! read more

Amazing food and great ambience. Upper West hit on every level. We came here to celebrate an occasion with a larger party and the staff here were very accommodating during peak hours on a Saturday evening. Street parking outside was plentiful, a rare occurrence in LA. We'd ordered the following: Burrata - Delicious, fresh, beautifully plated. Toast was crunchy and the tomato-cranberry chutney accompanied the dish very well. I could probably eat three of these in one sitting alone if no one else at the table judged me for it. Thai Peanut Noodles - Cold ramen just as described, delicious, lots of flavor. Grilled Artichoke Hearts - This dish had no business being this good coated with parmigiano-reggiano, a citrus aioli, and laying in a bed of herbs, this side dish was out of this world. Never knew I could love artichoke hearts as much as I did until I ate them here. French Fries - Crunchy, great, but the main winner was the sriracha aioli dip. Immensely flavorful. Mac & Cheese - Steaming, crispy top layer, rush of flavors with every bite. A mix of mozzarella, gouda, white cheddar cheese and roasted papilla pepper. One of the best I'd had. This place was spectacular. I'll be back again. read more

Upper West - BURRATA - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Had the ribs and Thai pasta. Good food, good atmosphere, good service. Not much else to say. Bon Appetite. read more

The food was okay but, the servers constantly rushed us at our table. I have eaten at a countless number of restaurants and have never experienced such rude behavior. I highly recommend not coming here because the service is atrocious. read more

It is a lovely lovely place. Parking is quite a bit of headache. But once you are inside, it is warm and fuzzy. The vibe is very chill, and boy they have a lot of whiskeys. The food is very yummy. Easily one of the top spots for happy hour in SM read more

Upper West - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I'm updating my review to the 5 stars it deserves, the manager and owner contacted me and went em over everything. It was a misunderstanding by all but now it's understood and smoothed out. Everything from the food to the atmosphere to the wait staff was impeccable and far exceeded all my expectations. This is definitely a new favorite for me and I can't wait to bring my family here. read more